New legislation wants to see proof of VA-DOD interoperability advancement

The Fiscal Year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to produce evidence of its EHR's interoperability with the Department of Defense EHR before releasing healthcare funds for the agency, according to an ExecutiveGovreport.

Additionally, the proposed legislation would require the VA to formalize its EHR modernization plan before receiving the $260 million in appropriations for the EHR initiative, according to the report.

The legislation would include certification milestones focused on functionality for the VA to meet.